The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-30
THE TRAIL TO DEATH.
DS,ro,t Free Press,

tuV NutttC StUtlChtN uNitfQs w ttNt Nt a wagon trail leading across tho great prairie ocean towards sunsetg The wheels had crushed flower and hlos- i som with their iron tircs--thc iron shod feet had torn up the ercping i vines and sweet graSSes--the wagons had groaned and complained as they ascendet and descended the sharp swells. That was all, Hut mol
 1 What of the pcople--ihe brave men who were daring hunger, thirst, ac- cidcnt and the Indians thirst for hlood i to rcach ndw homes under the shadow of the Roskicsg What of tho stout hearted wives who werc clinging to them through pcril---ot the children whose eyes opened wonteronsly wide at the immcnsity of tho prairies2 We thought of them with a chill as we halted. llcre the wagons had halted ss woll. X halt two hours hetoie sun set, without wood ar water at hand ,noapt-=dangcr. What tlangrrF The horscs had paved the graund in T nervous way as they stood there. The five ar six mon had assembled tegeth- CT on knoll for consultation. Tho grass which their feet had pressed to earth had mol yet recovered It's posi-. ton. Which way had their gaxe lccn turncdg To thu south! What had they seen, Indians the dark skinned race ot haters~- human beings who glory in having the hearts or tigers, Five six seven men against--how many2 Later on we put the number at fifty, Fifty painted, yelling, shriek- ing warriors~-not Il drop of pity In any heart not feeling of mercy in any bosom, They had caught sight of the whitc-toppcd wagons, and were coming up from the sonth-tig CTS after human blood.
 What did the pioneers say among thcm@lvcsg On how many checks did the sunburn of the prairie give place to the palencss of anxiety and fear? They gathered together away from the wagons they talked in low tones they sought Ia hide their fears from those they loved
 And what of the women and child. rem Faces turned WhIlpr than the snows of the new yoar--lips quivercl with emoiion- limbs tremhrd as the mind recalled stories of blood and cru. city, And In each wagon some one knelt and prayed to God to extend His hand of protection.
 And now the wagon moves on. For n time il Is in close order, with tho brave husbands between danger and their loved uncs Then there ls an ac- cident n denth-- a something to cause alarm, and the alarm soon becomes panic. Heaven help them now The horses are pushed to Il trol now to gnllop--mow they nrc running In mad excitement. urged by the whips of the drivers and the shouts of the Indians We know how It will end. The night is coming down now, and we go into camp. One night moU will make no difference with the skeletons lying on tine Hr1,ss two or three mites away. The wolves have been there each night for week
 The sun is m hour high as we rcach the spot. Here k an acre of ground on which curse may ever rest. Here the wagons were headed off--herc the husbands and sons made the light which men make when the last hope is gone and despair come. like dark cloud. One--two-~fo four ve-~all the wagons are here, but broken and usc. less. The bloated and half-dcyourcd bodies of the horses arc here. The bodies of men, women and children arc--n mo- You cannot call il skeleton body. Y0u cannot say that this bun dlc of clean picked poies wns man or wornan They are nll here. Not soul escaped. Over the ghnstly acre k strewn the garments of tbe dead - inc contents of the wagons. In the circle about the wagons are blood spots on the grass. Those pioneers did not die without revenge. But when tho last one had fallen, what shout. nf victory. What yrlis for vengeance What n frnst for toina- hawk and scalplng knife. The wolves hiding away in the shadows of yon grove must have heard tbe shricks 0f nhright--thc calls for mercy the prayers tO God. The vnltures sailing overhead must have quickeDed their wings as the horrible din of slaughter reached their ears.
 And VIC ride 0D. What usa t0 tramp oyer this hell-spot In search of namei Of what use D dig grave for these bODcsy What to the world away heynnd the mighty prairie that a few more of its millions have died--or how, Or when. Bat we mutter 4 curse upon the human devils, and we utter silent prayers to God for these victims
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